Teams
Thames Valley Riding Club has a strong commitment to all team competitions and if members wish to compete we provide the training and support regardless of the level.
This year we are looking to continue our success with strong teams in all disciplines and relevant training to help every rider achieve their goals.
- Lara Booth manages the show jumping teams and training.
- Lesley Wells and Natalie Olive manage the dressage teams and training.
- Kate Skinner manages the crosscountry teams and training.
- Emma Delport manages the one day event teams.
Contact details can be found here.
2010 was a great year for new riders and horses joining the training and teams and as a result we fielded a greater number of teams at each event than usual. Unfortunately our results did not always match our enthusiasm but we had a lot of fun! TVRC put forward teams for every qualifier and won places for most championships: including Intermediate Showjumping, Dressage, Dressage to Music and One Day Events.
Please be aware that there are some rules and restrictions placed by BRC on horses:
Firstly ALL horses and ponies must be fully vaccinated in accordance with the the BRC rules, see link below. These have changed slightly this year with regard to horses first vaccinated prior to 2006. BRC operate ZERO TOLERANCE with respect to this rule, so please check your vaccination certificate very carefully. If you are not sure, do ask one of the team managers to check it for you. Below is a link to FLU VAC CHECKER table provided by BRC.
Secondly drugs testing. There was a test carried out recently at a BRC championship which came back with a positive result. This has led to a tightening of rules and a potential increase in tests! Your horse could be tested at any area qualifier competition. This applies to even low doses of everyday substances like Bute and ACP so if in doubt, please check with your team managers. Penalties are now instant disqualification and up to a 2 year ban!
Thirdly, entry fees. Last year we unfortunately had several occasions where people volunteered for teams, entries were sent off and paid for and then they withdrew. Obviously we understand that this sometimes happens due to lameness etc. but the club did end up losing quite a bit of money last year, in some cases where team members simply changed their minds about competing. Therefore the committee discussed altering the arrangement slightly this year so that the club pays the BRC entry fee (which has to be submitted 21 days before the event) and then the team members pay the entry fee which goes to the organising club as entries generally close with the club later than with BRC. Hopefully this will allow team managers more time to get payment from team members. We will also be looking at entering fewer teams in the future if we continue to struggle to cover costs on this, and if replacement team members cannot be found after entries are made, those withdrawing will still be asked to pay their entry fee unless a vet/doctors certificate can be provided (bringing us into line with most competition centres).
Lastly downgrading. I know a few members have managed to start this process but if any members have horses with past winnings with BE, BSJA or BD it is now possible to apply to a case by case basis to downgrade that horse to compete at lower levels for the RC! Please see attached form, they will now also take into consideration rider experience so an experienced horse with a relatively inexperienced rider may be able to downgrade further than previously.
Reproduced below are the sections of the BRC rulebook on vaccinations and drugs tests. The whole thing can be found at BRC Rulebook.
If you wish to join a team then contact the relevant team manager with details of your experience and aspirations. Team training and selection events are held before competitions to ensure everyone is confident of what is being asked. Commitment and enthusiasm are valued equally to skill and talent.
Vaccinations
Please check that horses competing for the team events have their vaccinations up to date. In the past we have had a couple of members 'spun' from events for not having the complete series of jabs. Please check of your horses passport/vaccination certificate to ensure that the first three jabs are within the time periods specified and that the annual jabs are on or before the previous year's visit.
If you do find a discrepancy first check with your vet to ensure that the dates are correct on the certificate, then if you think you would like to compete for the club, you will need to start the course again. There is no way around this and no exceptions - Margaret Pitman attends each qualifier to check the certs and will not let anyone through who has a discrepancy.
G7: EQUINE INFLUENZA Our equine influenza rules are based on the British Horseracing Authority Rules (formerly The Jockey Club Rules). G7.1: Vaccinations against Equine Influenza This Rule applies in respect of any horse or pony which competes in a BRC Area Qualifier or Championship and for Royal Windsor competitions, round 2 onwards. The horse or pony must have been vaccinated against equine influenza by a veterinary surgeon who is not the owner of the animal, in accordance with the rules set out in this rulebook. The horse must have received two primary vaccinations which are given not less than 21 days and not more than 92 days apart. If sufficient time has elapsed, the horse must also have received: • a first booster vaccination which is given not less than 150 days and not more than 215 days after the second component of the primary vaccination, and • further booster vaccinations at intervals of not more than a year apart. None of the vaccinations must have been given on the day of a competition or entry to championship stables if earlier, or on any of the 6 days before the competition or entry to championship stables. In the event of failure to comply with any of the requirements of this Rule, the horse or pony will not be permitted to take part in any competition to which these rules apply. G7.2: CHECKING OF PASSPORTS AND EQUINE INFLUENZA RECORDS For the purposes of determining whether the requirements of these rules have been met, the following documents must be available for inspection in respect of a horse or pony which is taking part in a BRC Area Qualifier or Championship: • any passport issued for the horse, or • the full vaccination records for the horse if this is not contained in the passport. The identification of the horse or pony must be checked against that contained in the passport. This may be done from the diagram and description of the animal or by microchip. The vaccination section of the horse's passport must have been completed by a Veterinary Surgeon who is not the owner of the horse or pony. The dates on which the vaccinations were given must comply with the requirements as stated in the BRC Rulebook if the vaccination programme was started on or after 1 January 2006. For programmes started before this date, all vaccinations given after 1 January 2006 must comply with the requirements as stated in the BRC Rulebook, but errors in the programme relating to the first or annual boosters given before 1 January 2006 may be ignored provided that the two primary vaccinations have been given within the correct time span. Any alterations to any entries on the vaccination record must have been made, signed and stamped by a veterinary surgeon. G7.3: Disqualification Any horse or pony failing the requirements described in these rules will not be permitted to compete. Any pony/horse that is in a team competition and has been disqualified at an Area Qualifier cannot be replaced; the team will have to continue as a team of three, or if already a team of three, will have to compete as individuals only, if there is an individual competition. Any pony/horse which is disqualified at an Area Qualifier under this rule will be reported to BRC. If that horse is part of a team that has qualified for a Championship then the disqualified pony/horse cannot be replaced with a reserve for that Championship and the team must remain a team of three. No refund will be awarded for any disqualified horse/pony. Every effort will be made to ensure that the checking at Area Qualifiers is carried out correctly. BRC accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any losses suffered, whether directly or indirectly, due to incorrect checking at any BRC Area Qualifier or Championships. It is the sole responsibility of the competitor to ensure that their certificate is valid and it should not be assumed that because a certificate has been accepted at one competition in good faith it would also be accepted at another competition. G7.4: FLU VACCINATION CHECKLIST A copy of the flu vaccination checklist can be found here and should be used as follows: • Take the date of the first injection and look this up in column headed INJECTION DATE • Compare the dates shown in 21 DAYS and 92 DAYS columns with the date in the flu vac record for the 2nd injection, if the date is within the range it is fine, if not it is an invalid record • Take the date of the second injection and look this up in the column headed INJECTION DATE • Compare the dates shown in 150 DAYS and 215 DAYS columns with the date in the flu vac record for the 3rd injection, if the date is within the range it is fine, if not it is an invalid record (only if first injection commenced after 1 January 2006) G7.5: Dual Names The name shown on the certificate/passport must be the one that is used on all official competition entry forms. If a stable name is also shown on the certificate this must be signed and stamped by a veterinary surgeon. G7.6: Allergic ponies/horses & Homeopathic vaccinations Ponies or horses that, for any reason, are unable to be vaccinated against equine influenza will not be given any dispensation to compete. Homeopathic vaccinations are not acceptable. DRUG TESTING G17: FORBIDDEN SUBSTANCES G17.1: Acceptable Levels Ponies or horses taking part in a competition must be healthy and compete on their inherent merits. The use of Prohibited Substances might influence a pony’s/horse’s performance or mask an underlying health problem and could falsely affect the outcome of a competition. BRC follows FEI rules regarding substances, and a full list of forbidden substances can be found on the FEI website. G17.2: Use of Drugs during a competition If, during a competition, it is necessary to treat a pony/horse with a drug, a Veterinary Surgeon, appointed by the organiser or Championship Director, must be informed immediately. They will investigate the reason for the treatment given and make a report to the Official Steward who shall decide whether the pony/horse is allowed to continue or shall be eliminated. G17.3: Random Tests The BRC Committee reserves the right to initiate at any time at any official competition, random tests in accordance with the standard operating procedure prescribed in the FEI Veterinary Rules. A refusal to allow a random test shall constitute a breach of this rule. G17.4: Riders It is forbidden for any rider to compete whilst under the influence of any stimulating, calming or other drug or substance as detailed in the British Equestrian Federation Rules. The BEF and member bodies are signatories to the World Anti Doping Code.